Elon Musk's Boring Company Picked for O'Hare Express Tunnel

Elon Musk's Boring Company has been selected to build and operate an express service from downtown Chicago to O'Hare International Airport. NBC 5's Lauren Petty reports.

(Published Thursday, June 14, 2018)

After two reports surfaced late Wednesday night, the city of Chicago confirmed that Mayor Rahm Emanuel will announced the selection of Elon Musk's Boring Company to build and operate an express service to O'Hare International Airport.

The company plans to transport passengers between O’Hare and Block 37 in the Loop in approximately 12 minutes each way by using electric vehicles that run through new twin underground tunnels, the city said. The project will be funded entirely by the company with no taxpayer subsidy, according to a press release from the city.

“Bringing Chicago’s economic engines closer together will keep the city on the cutting edge of progress, create thousands of good-paying jobs and strengthen our great city for future generations,” Emanuel said in an emailed statement. “This transformative project will help Chicago write the next chapter in our legacy of innovation and invention.”

The Boring Company said a map of the route would be posted later this summer on its website.

Elon Musk's Underground Tunnel May Soon Be Available

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is one step closer to remedying the harsh Los Angeles traffic with his underground tunnel. Beverly White reports for the NBC4 News at 11 on Thursday, May 10, 2018.

(Published Friday, May 11, 2018)

"Loop is a high-speed underground public transportation system in which passengers are transported on autonomous electric skates traveling at 125-150 miles per hour," Boring's website reads. "Electric skates will carry between 8 and 16 passengers, or a single passenger vehicle. "

Skates are built on a modified Tesla Model X chassis and feature a climate-controlled cabin, luggage storage space and Wi-Fi.

Fares for the express tunnel are not finalized but will be less than half the typical price of a taxi or ride-share services, but higher than the Blue line, Boring said.